Explore Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
Can't find the answer in our existing FAQs, submit a question to Mr. Smarty Plants.
Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.
rate this answer
Friday - July 28, 2006
From: Tacoma, WA
Region: Northwest
Topic: Propagation
Title: Practicality of growing bluebonnets in Germany
Answered by: Joe Marcus and Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I am originally from Texas, but I am living in Washington and moving to Germany for the military. I desperately miss bluebonnets and my husband picked up a big bag for me as a present and have no idea what to do. Germany is cold most of the year. I was wondering if there was someway I could make a terrarium of some sort with UVA and UVB lights and grow them indoors. Or if I could maybe figure out if I have to plant them outside, what's my best bet for growing them? soil? vitamins? sunlight? heat? Whatever I need basically. I would really like to to figure something out. Also I saw another person's email that said something about a maroon bluebonnet. I have never heard of that. Could I get some info on that?ANSWER:
It is indeed possible to grow bluebonnets in an enclosed, artificial environment. It is also very impractical and almost certainly prohibitively expensive. It would probably not be possible at all to grow them outside in Germany; the environmental conditions just are not suited to Texas bluebonnets.Happily, bluebonnets are lupines and there are lupines native to Germany. You can enjoy the European native lupines during your stay in Germany and they will serve as fond reminders of home. Germany is noted for its public and private gardens where dazzling floricultural displays are created each year during warm months. You are sure to enjoy these living works of art.
Save your bag of bluebonnet seeds for your return to Texas and maybe you can add some maroon seeds to them as well. Here is a link for the maroon bluebonnet and here is information on growing your bluebonnets in Texas. It's something to look forward to upon your return to Texas!
More Propagation Questions
Information about growing mountain laurels (Sophora secundiflora)
November 15, 2008 - I live just outside of Austin on 10 acres. I have several very large mountain laurels on my property that I planted from containers. Mine flower profusely every year. I feed them bi-weekly and wate...
view the full question and answer
Planting time for native yucca seeds
August 11, 2008 - When and how do you plant yucca plant seeds and or/pods ?
I took them off of the stalks when I cut the stalks today .
view the full question and answer
200 year old white oak with no acorns in Oregon City OR
April 26, 2010 - We have a white oak tree in our yard that is about 200 yrs old. We have lived in the house for 30+ years, and have never seen an acorn.
We have had it pruned by an arborist, who said it is in good...
view the full question and answer
Transplanting roughleaf dogwood in Pflugerville, TX
March 28, 2007 - Hello.
My rougleaf dogwood is suckering enthusiastically, and rather than mow off all the root suckers, I'd like to transplant a couple of them to the stream bank in the greenbelt behind my house. ...
view the full question and answer
Keeping a Texas Madrone alive from Belton TX
October 01, 2012 - I have found a supplier of a Texas Madrone and have been wanting to grow one ever since our family vacation to Big Bend NP. My question is how do you have success with this tree? Many people say it is...
view the full question and answer
 |
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. Mr. Smarty Plants wants you to be his Facebook friend. Click the Facebook icon to add yourself to Mr. Smarty Plants list of friends. |
